Review of Unhinged

[Abigail Vian]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Unhinged" by Steve Galley.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Unhinged by Steve Galley is a young adult novel set in a small town in Montreal. It follows Eddie, a student in his senior year in high school who seems to have it all. He is the star of the football team, popular with all the kids in his grade, and with his dream girl. He is well-liked and trusted by all his friends and is always trying to help other people. However, he is secretly battling his own demons and does not know how to get help. He suffers from depression and anxiety, and this is manifested as the “Hunter”. Throughout the novel, Eddie is learning to navigate his relationships with his friends, girlfriend, and parents, while also fighting the illness that haunts his mind. Will he be able to come to terms with his illness, and confide in those closest to him? Will he be able to get the help he needs before the “Hunter” ruins his life beyond repair?

I really enjoyed reading this novel and feel as though it has many positive aspects. Firstly, it shows examples of strong personal relationships. Eddie has a handful of close friends and their support for each other is very well conveyed and immensely touching. For example, Eddie’s closest friends Clarke, Rob, and Jess all have a deep connection with him, and they all are willing to go the extra mile to be there for their friend. Secondly, it is a raw and honest depiction of depression and anxiety and instigates important conversations regarding mental health. The author intricately portrays depression and gives insight into the mind of a person who suffers from the illness.

Despite a handful of grammatical errors that can easily be fixed, I did not find any negative aspects of this novel. This book was easy to read and to follow along with and has a great flow.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Although it is a young adult novel, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I strongly appreciate the topics that are discussed. The vocabulary used by the author and the images created results in a powerful experience for the reader.

I would recommend this novel to anybody who is interested in mental health and helping those with mental illnesses. On the other hand, this book may be triggering for people who suffer from a mental illness or have experience with other sensitive issues as the novel also touches upon the issues of drug abuse and physical violence.

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Unhinged
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